Stapling apparatus



June 1, 1965 E. FISCHER STAPLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1965 INVENTOR.

F R n M T E A June 1, 1965 E. FISCHE/R STAPLING APPARATUS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 R. I m m h m w A W M 3% M Q h F \m R 4 R an \w n} m AW N n \c g .I It I 2 u I Jr Qua N m m mm k a 1% RmW// m b w Q an l v ml 9 M v w mm Na w k m 8 A. 1 1 i Q m KQ Q H WM. %.Q H mmu\h ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,186,617 STAPLING AfPARATUS Emil Fischer, Ludwigshafen-(Bggersheim, Germany, as-

signor to Schnelipressenfabrik Frankenthal Aihert 8r Cie. Aktiengesellschaft, Frankenthal, Pfalz, Germany, a company of Germany Filed Ian. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 250,252 Qlaims priority, application (Germany, Ban. 1%, 1962, Sch 30,805

6 Claims. (Cl. 227- 81) into individual pieces constituting material for the staples.

In such known devices the divided wire pieces are gripped, in cooperation with a rotary forming disc by a die head provided in the rotary stapling cylinder and guided along a stationary stapling horn. The stapling horn gradually forces the pieces of wire into the die and shapes them into staples. The ends of the staples are located in notches in the solid part of the die and the cross piece is located in a notch of the movable punch for driving-in the staples and which forms the bottom of the die. The staples are then forced out of the die by the driving-in punch and penetrate the layers of paper to be stapled. Subsequently the points of the staple ends strike against the clinching die located in a die cylinder cooperating with the stapling cylinder, and the ends of the stapes are turned over and are closed round the material.

An object of the present invention is the provision of stapling apparatus of the referred to type which is relatively simple in design and construction, to enable the machine to be universal in its use, such as for example with a normal, i.e. single-size stapling cylinder .as well as with a double-size stapling cylinder, and to be fitted in rotary printing presses, for automatic shaping and insertion of staples in the work being operated on.

Among the further objects of the invention is the provision of a rotary staple-forming and inserting mechanism, especially, though not limitatively, for use in connection with fast rotary printing presses, which mechanism is both compact in construction and efficient and positive in operation, and which will allow of the provision of a plurality of stapling points or units in a single machine for the multiple stitching of superposed webs of material effectively. and economically, as well as at'high operating speeds.

With the foregoing and related objects in view, the invention involves generally the use of a rotating stapling cylinder which encloses a stationary element controlling the insertion of the staples and with which another element for forming staples is externally associated. In the preferred embodiment, a hollow shaft carries a discshaped body for each of several stapling points located axially in series in known manner, the or each cylindrical body being provided with a somewhat eccentric transverse bore for receiving a staple-inserting punch and with a circumferential recess wherein a likewise rotating shaping disc, serving as an instrument for forming staples, engages at a position spaced from the staple insertion position.

The foregoing and related features, as well as ancillary embodiment of the new stapling apparatus, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of the" arrange- 15,18,617 Patented June 1, 1965 ICC ment of the stapling apparatus on endless lengths of sheets which are guided together,

FIGURE 2 is a cross section through a single stapling disc of the device of FIG. 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation, of the stapling disc and the shaping discs and their operating mechanisms according to the invention.

The web of paper 1, FIG. 1, formed from lengths of paper which have been guided together, is fed in the direction of the arr-ow by pairs of draw rollers 2, 3, and 4, 5.

Between the pair of draw rollers 2, 3, and the pair 4, 5, there is located a die cylinder 6 having a staple clinching die 7 the disposition of the cylinder being that the web of paper is deflected to one side somewhat at this region, as indicated in the drawing, and is in contact with the cylinder6 over a small arc of the periphery of the latter. Opposite the stapling die 7 of the cylinder 6 is disposed a staple cylinder 8' and above the latter a staple forming disc 9.

A horn 11, one for each stapling die, is mounted on a stationary cross bar 10, and extends from a position within a recess 68 on the periphery of the shaping disc 9, through a recess 55 on the periphery of the stapling cylinder 8 almost to the region of the clinching die 7 between the stapling cylinder 8 and the die cylinder 6. The purpose of the horn is to prevent the staples in the stapling cylinder recess 39, FIG. 3, from falling out on their way from the shaping disc 9 to the driving position between the staple cylinder 8 and the cylinder 6. The reference 12 indicates the wire feed position before entering the bites of the discs 8 and 9.

According to the invention, the stapling cylinder, FIGS. 2 and 3, takes the form of a hollow shaft 8 which carries a number of disc-shaped bodies 8 corresponding to the number of stapling points. The stapling cylinder is journalled at one end in a bevelled roller bearing 14 located in a bearing housing 15 in a wall 13 of the frame of the apparatus. At its other end the stapling cylinder is mounted in a roller bearing 16 which is disposed in a bearing housing 1'7 in a wall 18 of the frame. The inner portion 19 of a key shaft coupling engages with an outer portion 20 and is firmly keyed to the driving side end of the stapling cylinder 8. The outer portion 20 is connected to a universal joint 22 by means of screws or bolts and a clamp disc 21, said shaft 22 driving the stapling cylinder hollow shaft 8 and also the associated stapling cylinder disc 8"from the machine drive. The hollow space 24 extending over the entire length of the stapling cylinder 8 is closed in an oil-tight manner at this end by means of a sealing disc 23.

A stationary shaft 27 is mounted in the hollow space 24 by means of needle bearings 25 and a ball bearing 26,, said shaft having a number of cams 28 which are equal in number to the number of stapling points and are located in the vicinity of the stapling discs 8'. A supporting bush 30 is secured at the end of the shaft 27 by means of a key 29 and is screwed to an oil protecting casing 31 and thus prevents the shaft-27 from'rotating. The single adjustment of the cams 28 relatively to the follower rollers49 of the staple-inserting punches 44 is effected by temporarily releasing and twisting the supporting bush 30.

Eachof the discs 8' of the stapling cylinder 8 has a somewhat eccentric, continuous transverse bore 32. flanged bush 33 is mounted in a recess at one end of this bore by means of screws 34. That part of the flanged bush which extends into the bore 32 is internally lined with a guide sleeve 35. A'guide nut 36 is screwed on the inner end of the bush 33 to position this bush relatively to the longitudinal axis of the bore 32; at the same time it retains in place a shock absorbing spring 37. A die head 38 is secured in a recess on the bush 33 and has Q a) notchesfil in which the ends of the staples engage when the piece of wire is shaped. A projection 40 on the die head 38 engages a portion of wire and guides it from the wire cutting point to {the shaping disc 9.

On the opposite side of the bore 32 a flanged bush 41 is mounted byrneans of screws 42 in recesses on the body '8". Housed in the shank of the bush 4 1. located in the bore 32 is a guide bush 43. The staple-inserting punch 44 is slidably mounted in the bushes 35, 43.

A driving head member 45 secured by a screw 46 is positioned in a recess in the upperpart-of the punch 44.

The upper part of the member 45 is guided in the die.

head 38 and is provided with a notch 39 on its'square face for receiving the cross piece of the staple. The .cross piece of a formed staple is located in the notch 39' of the driving head 4-5 While the raised ends thereof are locatedin the notches 39'on the inner sides of the die head 38.

, The punch a4 is rectangular below a collar 47, whichserves as an abutment for the punch 44 against load created by the damping spring 37. The central rectangular portion of the punched is provided with a first slot-like recess 48 extending from a point below the collar 47 to a cap 52. Between the latter and the flanged bush 41 are provided two compression springs 53 and 54, the pre-.- compression of which urges the control roller 49. against the cam 22%. When the control roller 49runs off the cam 28, a sufficient impulse is thereby imparted to the punch 44 for the driving head to eject the staple from the die head 38.

The stapling cylinder 8 has a recess 55 extending,

circumferentially over its whole periphery, said recess being formed in the flanged bush 41 and the die head 38 V and having a width corresponding to the space between the legs of the staple. The'staple shaping disc.9 engages in this recess.

A shaft 56 carrying the disc 9 is journalled at one end in a ball bearing 57 located in a bearing housing .58.

which is centered in the wall 13 of the, frame of the v apparatus and is secured thereto by bolts or screws 59;.

The shaft 56 is driven by a spur gear wheel 60' displace-- The shaft 56 fixedly carries a pinion by which wire feed means are driven and also fixedly carries a ring. member 66 having the disc 9 clamped thereon by means of nut 67.

In operation, the cut'wire elements fed at the point 12 p to the staple cylinder 8 and forming disc 9 are formed in known manner into; staples in cooperation with the hornlll and swept by the. latterto the staple-insertion point opposite to the clinching die 7, the formed staples being properly positioned in the notches 39, 319 of the die'head 39'. Upon arrival of the staples at the stapling position, cam'ZS. releases the punch 44,nwhereby toim V pulsivelydrive the staples into and to clinch the same behind the ,work'by the} action clinching die 7. i

' v In'the foregoing, the invention has been described with reference to diagrammatically: illustrated yet. specific '{dea vices or systems; It will be evident, however,"that varia-l tions and modifications, 'aswell as the substitutionof V The opposite end of the springs 53, 54. and

equivalent. parts and devicesfor those .shown hereinfo'r illustration; may be-rnade in accordance ,with the broader-f scopeand spirit of the invention, as set forth in. the:

appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in. an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense. i V

I claim: I a 1. Staple forming "and'inserting apparatuscomprising in combination:

(1) a staple clinching die,

'(2) 'a rotary stapling cylinder having a circumferential recess and a transverse eccentric bore including a lateral space; a

(3) a hollow drive shaft for said cylinder, 7

(4) a rotary staple forming 'disc en gaging'said recess,

to form, in the staple forming position of said cyliner, wire members. fed thereto and to said cylinder into staples engaging notches in the walls of said recess providinga staplingjdie,

' (5) a staple inserting punch slidably mounted in said bore andhaving an outer notched endforming the bottomof said stapling die, (6) stationary guide means extending along the circumference of said cylinder, to retain thestaples formed engaging said follower, to normally. restrain out- I ward movement ofsaidpunch and to release said punch in thestaple insertion position of said cylinder.

2.,In stapling .mechanism as .claimed in claim 1, adapted for the simultaneous insertion in the Work of an array of staples at mutually spaced distancesfrom each other, comprising a plurality of stapling cylinders mounted upon said drive shaft in spaced relation, anda corresponding number of spaced cooperating cams for said cylinders carried ,by said stationary shaft.

3. In stapling mechanism asclaimed in claim 1, said cambeingdesignedyto maintainsaid punchunder spring pressure during the staplesformingpartial rotation of said stapling cylinder and to intermittently release the same and to. apply an impulse force. to the staples by said punch during the registry position of saidstapling and clinching dies.

4. Staple forming and inserting'apparatus comprising in combination: p

(1) a rotarysstaple 'clinching cylinder having a peripheral staple clinching die, 1

.(2) a, rotary stapling cylinder having a circumferential recess and an eccentric transverse bore-including a lateral space, (3) said cylinders-'arrangedfor passing .therebetween webs of superposed material to be stapled,

(4) 'a hollow drive shaft for said stapling cylinder, (5) a rotary staple forming dise'engagingsaid recess, to form, in the staple forming position of said stapling cylinder, wireelernents fedthereto and to said stapling cylinder into staples engaging .notches'in the walls V of said recessproyiding a stapling die,

(6) a staple inserting punchslidably mounted .in said bore and having an outer .notchedend forming the. 7

bottom of said stapling die, L a

I iforjrned withinQsaid recess while movin'gffrom the staple forming positionqto. the stapleisinsertion posi- (7 stationary guide meansextending along the eircumv 'ference of said stapling cylinder, to 'retain the staples (8) resilient actuating means effective to urge said punch in the outward staple driving direction, and

(9) staple driving control means comprised of:

(a) a cam follower carried by said punch,

(b) a stationary shaft mounted within said drive shaft and said lateral space, and

(c) a cam carried by said stationary shaft and engaging said follower, to normally restrain outward movement of said punch and to intermittently release said punch in the staple driving position of said stapling cylinder.

5. In stapling mechanism as claimed in claim 4, said hollow shaft supporting a plurality of stapling cylinders in mutually spaced relation to each other and cooperating with separate forming discs and clinching cylinders, and a corresponding number of control cams upon said stationary shaft cooperating with the associated punches of said stapling cylinders, to perform a multiple stapling operation.

6. In stapling mechanism as claimed in claim 4-, drive means for said hollow shaft, a common operating shaft supporting said staple-forming discs, and motion-transmitting means operably connecting said hollow shaft with said'operating shaft.

FOREIGN PATENTS 518,356 2/40 Great Britain.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. STAPLE FORMING AND INSERTING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (1) A STAPLE CLINCHING DIE, (2) A ROTARY STAPLING CYLINDER HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL RECESS AND A TRANSVERSE ECCENTRIC BORE INCLUDING A LATERAL SPACE, (3) A HOLLOW DRIVE SHAFT FOR SAID CYLINDER, (4) A ROTARY STAPLE FORMING DISC ENGAGING SAID RECESS, TO FORM, IN THE STAPLE FORMING POSITION OF SAID CYLINDER, WIRE MEMBERS FED THERETO AND TO SAID CYLINDER INTO STAPLES ENGAGING NOTCHES IN THE WALLS OF SAID RECESS PROVIDING A STAPLING DIE, (5) A STAPLE INSERTING PUNCH SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE AND HAVING AN OUTER NOTCHED END FORMING THE BOTTOM OF SAID STAPLING DIE, (6) STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CYLINDER, TO RETAIN THE STAPLES FORMED WITHIN SAID RECESS WHILE MOVING FROM THE STAPLE 